Will Smith has announced his first-ever UK and European headline tour and the choice of venues has sparked surprise and speculation about the state of his career.
This month (March), which marks the three year “anniversary” of the infamous Oscars slap that overshadowed his Best Actor win for King Richard, Smith will perform at small unconventional locations.
These include Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse, and Wolverhampton’s The Halls.
These venues, with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 15,000, are a far cry from the stadiums and arenas typically associated with an artist of his stature.
The tour, titled Based on a True Story, coincides with the release of his first album since 2005. While Smith has headlined festivals like Coachella in recent years, this marks his first proper tour, and the modest scale has raised eyebrows.
While some are excited to see Smith perform his classic hits like Gettin’ Jiggy wit It and Men in Black, others have questioned the choice of venues.
“Scarborough? Wolverhampton? Is this really the same Will Smith who headlined Coachella?” one fan tweeted.
Under the star’s announcement on social media, some fans mocked the move. One wrote: “Oh no! never thought I’d see the day when Will Smith would be reduced to performing in Scarborough. Is Butlins next?”
Another commented: “Chris Rock is somewhere still having the last laugh.” While a third stated: “I love you Will. Please cancel this tour or fire your management - Wolverhampton ain’t it!”Fans have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement.
The announcement comes three years after Smith’s career-defining scandal at the 2022 Academy Awards, where he slapped Chris Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The incident, which went viral globally, led to a 10-year ban from the Oscars and a significant public backlash. Since then, Smith’s career has taken a quieter turn.
Once a fixture at blockbuster premieres and global events, he’s now performing at venues like Scarborough Open Air Theatre—a far cry from the Wembley Stadiums of his heyday.
The tour will kick off in August 2025, with stops in Scarborough, Cardiff, Manchester, London, and Wolverhampton. Notably, major cities like Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin have been skipped.
The tour comes as the star is set to release his first album in more than two decades, Based On A True Story. The album is set for release on March 28
Promoters promised: “These live shows will see him performing songs from the new album along with his classic hits including Jiggy Wit It, Miami, Summertime and more.”
Despite the naysayers, Smith appears optimistic. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “I’M GOING ON TOUR THIS SUMMER!! We’re hitting up UK & Europe to bring U all the hits, some new joints, and a few surprises.”
The tour will also feature tracks from his upcoming album, which includes collaborations with artists like Big Sean, long-term collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff, and his rapper son, Jaden Smith.
Smith concert locations and dates:
- August 24 2025: Scarborough Open Air
- August 25 2025: Coopers Field, Bute Park, Cardiff
- August 27 2025: O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
- August 28 2025: O2 Brixton Academy, London
- August 30 2025: University of Wolverhampton at The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
General ticket sales are from Friday (March 21) at 10am through Ticketmaster UK.
